1 Amakhosi 18
1 Ngemva kwesikhathi eside, ngomnyaka wesithathu, ilizwi likaThixo lezwakala ku-Elija lisithi: “Hamba uyezibika ku-Ahabi, ngizanisa izulu elizweni.”
Awo nga wayiseewo ebbanga lya myaka essatu kasookedde enkuba ebula, ekigambo kya Mukama ne kijjira Eriya nti, “Genda weerage eri Akabu, omutegeeze nti nditonnyesa enkuba ku nsi.”
2 Lakanye u-Elija wahamba wayazibika ku-Ahabi. Ngalesosikhathi indlala yayinkulu kakhulu eSamariya,
Awo Eriya n’agenda okweyanjula eri Akabu.
3 njalo u-Ahabi wayebize u-Obhadaya, owayengumlindi wesigodlo sakhe. (U-Obhadaya wayekholwa kakhulu kuThixo.
Mu biro ebyo enjala ng’ennyinnyitidde nnyo mu Samaliya, Akabu n’ayita Obadiya omukulu w’olubiri eyali assaamu ennyo Mukama ekitiibwa.
4 Lapho uJezebheli wayebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo, u-Obhadaya wayethethe abalikhulu wayabafihla ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu ebhalwini lunye, wabathumela ukudla lamanzi.)
Olwali olwo nga Yezeberi atandika okutta bannabbi bonna aba Mukama, Obadiya n’addira bannabbi kikumi n’abakweka mu mpuku bbiri buli emu ng’erimu amakumi ataano ataano, n’abaweeranga omwo emmere n’amazzi.
5 U-Ahabi wayethe ku-Obhadaya, “Ngena elizweni lonke emaxhaphozini lasezihotsheni. Mhlawumbe singathola khona utshani bokupha amabhiza lezimbongolo zethu ukuze singabulali leyodwa yezinyamazana zethu.”
Akabu n’amugamba nti, “Tuuka buli wantu awali enzizi ez’amazzi n’awali obugga bwonna, oboolyawo tunaafuna omuddo ne tuwonya embalaasi zaffe n’ennyumbu okufa, tuleme okufiirwa ensolo zonna.”
6 Ngakho behlukaniselana isigaba somhlaba ababezawuhlola. U-Ahabi wakhangela le kwathi lo-Obhadaya laye waya le.
Ne beeyawulamu bombi okubuna ensi, Akabu n’akwata ekkubo lye ne Obadiya n’akwata erirye.
7 Kwathi u-Obhadaya ezihambela nje, wahlangabezwa ngu-Elija. U-Obhadaya wamnanzelela, wakhothamela phansi emhlabathini, wasesithi, “Kambe nguwe sibili, nkosi yami Elija?”
Awo Obadiya bwe yali ng’ali ku lugendo lwe, Eriya n’amusisinkana. Obadiya bwe yamutegeera n’avuunama wansi n’agamba nti, “Ddala ggwe wuuyo, mukama wange Eriya?”
8 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Yebo. Hamba uyetshela inkosi yakho ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’”
N’addamu nti, “Ye nze. Genda ogambe mukama wo nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’”
9 U-Obhadaya wabuza wathi, “Ngoneni kanti okwenza unikele inceku yakho ezandleni zika-Ahabi ukuba ibulawe?
Obadiya n’amugamba nti, “Kiki kye nkusobezza, okutuma omuddu wo eri Akabu ajja okunzita?
10 Ngeqiniso elinjengoba uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho ephila, akukho sizwe loba umbuso lapho inkosi yami ingazange ithume izithunywa ukuba zikudinge khona. Kuthe laloba isizwe loba umbuso ulandula ukuba awukho khonale, ubenze bafunga ukuthi abangeke bakuthole.
Mukama Katonda wo nga bw’ali omulamu, tewali ggwanga oba bwakabaka mukama wange gy’atatumye mubaka kukunoonya. Era buli ggwanga, oba bwakabaka obwagambanga nti toliiyo, yabalayizanga okukakasa nti tobangayo.
11 Kodwa khathesi usungithuma ukuthi ngiye enkosini ngiyeyitshela ukuthi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’
Kaakano oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange njogere nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’
12 Angikwazi ukuthi uMoya kaThixo uzakusa ngaphi mhla ngakutshiyayo. Nxa ngingayatshela u-Ahabi akudinge akuswele, uzangibulala. Kunjalo-nje mina nceku yakho ngimkhonzile uThixo kusukela ebutsheni bami.
Simanyi Mwoyo wa Mukama gy’anaakutwala nga kyenzije nveewo. Bwe nnaagenda ne ntegeeza Akabu n’atakusangawo, ajja kunzita, ate nga nze omuddu wo okuva mu buto bwange, nsinza Mukama.
13 Awukezwa yini, nkosi yami, engakwenzayo uJezebheli ebulala abaphrofethi bakaThixo na? Ngafihla abalikhulu ezimbalwini ezimbili, bengamatshumi amahlanu kolulodwa, ngabapha ukudla lamanzi.
Mukama wange totegeezebwanga, kye nakola nga Yezeberi atta bannabbi ba Mukama? Nakweka kikumi ku bannabbi ba Mukama mu mpuku bbiri, ataano ataano mu buli mpuku, era ne mbawa emigaati okulya n’amazzi okunywa.
14 Njalo khathesi usungithuma ukuba ngiye enkosini yami ngiyeyitshela ngithi, ‘U-Elija ulapha.’ Kusobala ukuthi izangibulala!”
Kaakano, oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange mugambe nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’ Ajja kunzita!”
15 U-Elija wathi, “Njengoba uThixo uSomandla engimkhonzayo ekhona, ngizazinikela ngempela ku-Ahabi lamuhla.”
Eriya n’amugamba, “Nga Mukama ow’Eggye bw’ali omulamu, gwe mpeereza, siireme kweraga eri Akabu leero.”
16 Ngakho u-Obhadaya wahlangabeza u-Ahabi wayamtshela, u-Ahabi wayahlangabeza u-Elija.
Awo Obadiya n’agenda okusisinkana Akabu, n’amutegeeza; Akabu n’ajja okusisinkana Eriya.
17 Uthe ebona u-Elija, wathi kuye, “Nguwe wena, wena oluhlupho ko-Israyeli?”
Akabu bwe yalaba Eriya, n’amubuuza nti, “Ggwe wuuyo, gwe ateganya Isirayiri?”
18 U-Elija waphendula wathi, “Angibanganga hlupho ko-Israyeli. Kodwa nguwe labendlu kayihlo abalubangileyo. Selitshiye imilayo kaThixo lalandela oBhali.
Eriya n’addamu nti, “Sinnateganya Isirayiri, naye ggwe n’ennyumba ya kitaawo, muvudde ku biragiro bya Mukama ne mugoberera ba Baali.
19 Biza abantu kulolonke elako-Israyeli ngiyehlangana labo eNtabeni iKhameli. Njalo letha bonke abaphrofethi bakaBhali abangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu labaka-Ashera abangamakhulu amane, abadlela etafuleni kaJezebheli.”
Kaakano kuŋŋaanya abantu bonna okuva mu Isirayiri yonna bajje ku lusozi Kalumeeri era oleete ne bannabbi ba Baali ebikumi ebina mu ataano wamu ne bannabbi ba Baaseri ebikumi ebina, abaliira ku mmeeza ya Yezeberi.”
20 U-Ahabi wakhupha ilizwi kulolonke elako-Israyeli wahlanganisa abaphrofethi labo eNtabeni iKhameli.
Awo Akabu n’atumira abantu ba Isirayiri bonna, era n’akuŋŋaanya ne bannabbi bonna ku lusozi Kalumeeri.
21 U-Elija wema phambi kwabantu wathi, “Lizathandabuza kuze kube nini ngeminakano emibili le na? Nxa uThixo enguNkulunkulu mlandeleni kodwa nxa uBhali enguNkulunkulu, mlandeleni.” Kodwa abantu abazange batsho lutho.
Awo Eriya n’ayimirira mu maaso g’abantu n’ayogera nti, “Mulituusa wa okutta aganaaga? Obanga Mukama ye Katonda mumugoberere, naye obanga Baali ye Katonda mugoberere oyo.” Naye abantu ne batamuddamu kigambo na kimu.
22 Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi kubo, “Yimi ngedwa umphrofethi kaThixo oseleyo kodwa uBhali ulabangamakhulu amane lamatshumi amahlanu.
Eriya n’abagamba nti, “Nze nsigaddewo nzekka ku bannabbi ba Mukama, naye Baali alina bannabbi ebikumi bina mu ataano.
23 Sidingeleni inkunzi ezimbili. Libanike bazikhethele abayifunayo bayihlabe bayiqume amaqatha bayifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa bangabasi umlilo. Lami ngizahlinza eyinye yazo ngiyiqobaqobe ngiyifake phezu kwenkuni kodwa angiyikubasa umlilo.
Kale mutuwe ente ennume bbiri, bo beerobozeeko emu, bagitemeeteme, bagiteeke ku nku, naye tebagikumamu. Nange naalongoosa eyookubiri, ne ngiteeka ku nku naye sijja kuzikumamu muliro.
24 Libe selibiza ibizo likankulunkulu wenu mina ngizacela ebizweni likaThixo. Unkulunkulu ozaphendula ngomlilo, nguye-ke uNkulunkulu.” Ngakho abantu bonke bathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kulungile.”
Kale oluvannyuma mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, nange nnaakowoola erinnya lya Mukama; anaddamu n’omuliro nga ye Katonda.” Abantu bonna ne baddamu nti, “Ky’oyogedde kirungi.”
25 U-Elija wathi kubaphrofethi bakaBhali, “Khethani inkunzi eyodwa njalo liqale lina ukuyilungiselela, njengoba lina libanengi kangaka. Memezani unkulunkulu wenu ngegama lakhe, kodwa lingalumathisi umlilo.”
Eriya n’agamba bannabbi ba Baali nti, “Mmwe musooke okweroboza ente emu ennume nga bwe muli abangi, mugiteeketeeke. Mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, naye temukoleeza muliro.”
26 Bayithatha inkunzi ababeyiphiwe bayilungisa. Basebebiza ibizo likaBhali kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwaba semini enkulu. Baklabalala besithi, “We Bhali, sabela bo!” Kodwa akubanga lampendulo; kakho owaphendulayo. Bagida bezingelezela i-alithari ababelakhile.
Ne batwala ente ebaweereddwa ne bagiteekateeka. Oluvannyuma ne bakoowoola erinnya lya Baali okuva ku makya okutuusa mu ttuntu. Ne baleekaanira waggulu nti, “Ayi Baali, otuwulire!” Naye ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna. Ne bazina nga beetooloola ekyoto kye baali bakoze.
27 Kwathi emini enkulu u-Elija waqalisa ukubahoza esithi, “Klabalalani ngamandla! Ngempela angithi ungunkulunkulu! Mhlawumbe ujule eminakanweni, engxenye ubambekile, loba engxenye uphakathi kohambo. Engxenye ulele ngakho ufuna ukuvuswa.”
Mu ssaawa ez’omu ttuntu Eriya n’atandika okubaduulira, ng’ayogera nti, “Muleekaane nnyo! Katonda ddala! Osanga ali mu birowoozo bingi, oba aliko ebimutawaanya, oba ali ku lugendo. Ayinza okuba nga yeebase, nga yeetaaga kumuzuukusa.”
28 Ngakho baklabalala ngamandla baziklaya ngezingqamu langezinkemba, njengoba kwakungumkhuba wabo, kwaze kwajuluka igazi.
Ne baleekaana nnyo nga bwe beesala n’obwambe ne beefumita n’amafumu ng’empisa yaabwe bwe yali, okutuusa omusaayi lwe gwabakulukuta.
29 Yedlula imini enkulu, bona baqhubeka ngokuphithizela bephrofetha kwaze kwaba yisikhathi somhlatshelo wakusihlwa. Kodwa akubanga lalutho, akubanga lampendulo, kakho owazihlupha ngakho.
Obudde bwali buyise nnyo, naye ne beeyongera okulagula kwabwe okutuusa ekiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi. Ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna, wadde assaayo omwoyo.
30 Ngakho u-Elija wathi ebantwini, “Wozani ngapha engikhona.” Basondela kuye, yena walungilungisa i-alithari likaThixo elaselibhidlikile.
Awo Eriya n’alyoka agamba abantu bonna nti, “Musembere kumpi nange.” Bonna ne bamusemberera, n’addaabiriza ekyoto kya Mukama ekyali kisuuliddwa.
31 U-Elija wathatha amatshe alitshumi lambili, yilelo limele isizwana sosendo lukaJakhobe, yena owayezwe ilizwi likaThixo lisithi kuye, “Uzabizwa ngokuthi ungu-Israyeli.”
N’addira amayinja kkumi n’abiri, buli limu n’aliteeka ku linnaalyo ng’ebika bya Yakobo bwe byali, Mukama gwe yayogerako nti, “Erinnya lye linaabanga Isirayiri.”
32 Wakha i-alithari ngebizo likaThixo ngalawo matshe, wagebha umgelo ozingelezela i-alithari okungangena kuwo igokoko lamabele.
N’azimba ekyoto mu linnya lya Mukama n’amayinja ago, n’asima olusalosalo okwetooloola ekyoto, ng’alugyamu lita kkumi na ttaano ez’amazzi.
33 Walungisa inkuni, wasika inyama yenkunzi wenza amaqatha, waseyibeka phezu kwenkuni. Wasesithi kubo, “Gcwalisani imigqomo emine emikhulu ngamanzi libe seliwathela phezu komhlatshelo laphezu kwenkuni.”
N’atindikira enku, n’atemaatema ente, n’agiteekako. N’alyoka abagamba nti, “Mujjuze ebibya bina amazzi, mugafuke ku kiweebwayo ne ku nku.”
34 Wathi, “Kwenzeni futhi,” bakwenza lokho njalo. Wathi, “Kwenzeni okwesithathu,” lakanye bakwenza bephinda okwesithathu.
N’abagamba baddemu bakole bwe batyo omulundi ogwokubiri, ne bakiddamu, ate era n’abagamba okuddamu omulundi ogwokusatu ne baddamu ogwokusatu nga bwe yalagira.
35 Amanzi agcwala aze agcwala lasemgelweni owawugombolozele i-alithari.
Amazzi ne gakulukuta okwetooloola ekyoto, n’okujjula ne gajjula olusalosalo.
36 Kuthe ngesikhathi somhlatshelo, u-Elija umphrofethi wasondela wakhuleka esithi, “Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Abhrahama, lo-Isaka lo-Israyeli, veza obala lamuhla ukuthi wena unguNkulunkulu ko-Israyeli kanye lokuthi mina ngiyinceku yakho, lokuthi zonke lezizinto ngizenza ngokulaya kwakho.
Mu kiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi, nnabbi Eriya n’asembera mu maaso n’asaba nti, “Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa Ibulayimu, owa Isaaka ne Isirayiri, olwa leero kimanyibwe nti ggwe Katonda mu Isirayiri, era nti nze muddu wo, era nkoze ebintu bino byonna olw’ekigambo kyo.
37 Akungiphendule Oh Thixo, akungiphendule ukuze lababantu bakwazi ukuthi wena Thixo, unguNkulunkulu, lokuthi njalo uguqula inhliziyo zabo.”
Onziremu, Ayi Mukama, onziremu, abantu bano bamanye, Ayi Mukama nti ggwe Katonda, era nti ggwe okyusa emitima gyabwe okudda gy’oli.”
38 Khonokho umlilo kaThixo wehla watshisa umhlatshelo, inkuni, amatshe lomhlabathi, kwaze kwatsha lamanzi ayesemgelweni.
Omuliro gwa Mukama ne gulyoka gugwa ne gwokya ekiweebwayo, n’enku, n’amayinja, n’ettaka, ne gumalirawo ddala n’amazzi mu lusalosalo.
39 Abantu bonke bekubona lokhu, bazilahla phansi bakhala bathi, “UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu! UThixo nguye uNkulunkulu!”
Awo abantu bonna bwe baakiraba, ne bavuunama ne bakaaba nnyo nga bagamba nti, “Mukama, ye Katonda! Mukama, ye Katonda!”
40 U-Elija wasebalaya wathi, “Bambani abaphrofethi bakaBhali. Akungaphunyuki lamunye!” Bababamba, u-Elija wathi kabasiwe eSigodini saseKhishoni, babulawelwa khona.
Eriya n’alyoka abalagira nti, “Mukwate bannabbi ba Baali, waleme okuba n’omu abaddukako.” Ne babakwata, Eriya n’abaserengesa ku kagga Kisoni, n’abattira eyo.
41 Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi ku-Ahabi, “Hamba, udle unathe, ngoba kuzwakala umdumo wezulu elikhulu.”
Eriya n’agamba Akabu nti, “Genda olye, n’okunywa onywe; kubanga waliwo okubwatuka kw’enkuba ey’amaanyi.”
42 Ngalokho u-Ahabi wasuka wayakudla njalo wanatha, kodwa u-Elija wakhwela phezu kwentaba yaseKhameli, wagobisa ikhanda lakhe walifaka phakathi kwamadolo akhe.
Awo Akabu n’agenda okulya n’okunywa, naye Eriya n’alinnya ku ntikko y’olusozi Kalumeeri, n’akutama, n’ateeka omutwe gwe wakati w’amaviivi ge.
43 Wathuma isisebenzi sakhe wathi: “Hamba uyephosa amehlo akho olwandle.” Lakanye isisebenzi sahamba sayakhangela. Sathi, “Akulalutho laphaya.” U-Elija watsho kwaze kwaba kasikhombisa esithi, “Buyela.”
N’agamba omuweereza we nti, “Yambuka, olengere okwolekera ennyanja.” Omuweereza n’agenda n’alaba n’akomawo n’amugamba nti, “Teri kye ndabyewo.” Eriya n’amugamba addeyo emirundi musanvu.
44 Ngesikhathi sesikhombisa isisebenzi sabika sathi, “Iyezana elincinyane ngangesandla somuntu likhanya liqubuka lisuka olwandle.” Ngakho u-Elija wasesithi, “Hamba uyetshela u-Ahabi uthi, ‘Bopha inqola yakho yempi usuke lapho ungakavalelwa lizulu.’”
Ku mulundi ogw’omusanvu omuweereza n’akomawo n’agamba nti, “Laba, ekire ekitono ekyenkana ng’omukono gw’omuntu kyambuka okuva mu nnyanja.” Eriya n’amugamba nti, “Genda ogambe Akabu nti, ‘Teekateeka eggaali lyo, oserengete, enkuba nga tennakuziyiza.’”
45 Ngalesosikhathi, kwaba mnyama emkhathini ngamayezi, kwaqubuka umoya, kwana izulu elikhulu njalo u-Ahabi wasuka ngenqola waya eJezerili.
Mu kiseera kyekimu, eggulu ne libindabinda, kibuyaga ne yeeyongera, enkuba ey’amaanyi n’ejja, Akabu n’ayolekera e Yezuleeri.
46 Amandla kaThixo ehlela ku-Elija, njalo uthe ukuba akhwicele isembatho sakhe ebhantini wagijima phambi kuka-Ahabi indlela yonke esiya eJezerili.
Amaanyi ga Mukama ne gakka ku Eriya ne yeesiba ekimyu, n’adduka ng’akulembedde Akabu okutuuka e Yezuleeri.
